Exercise has always been a big part of my life. I knew that wasn’t going to change after I got pregnant and it hasn’t–both times!
Right now, I’m about 27 weeks pregnant with our second daughter and I am following the same routine as a I had last time.
The key for me to keeping up with a routine while I’m pregnant is simplicity and consistency. During the first trimester especially, I get hit really hard with nausea and extreme fatigue. All totally normal, but also something that makes getting the gumption to workout a little bit harder.
If I can just train my body to be in the habit of exercising through those tough few weeks, I know the benefits last a lot longer! So, I always push through and continue to exercise even when I’m so. dang. tired. and it has been worth it both times!
Keeping my routine simple and consistent is key. That’s why I follow the same plan just about every single week!
1. Walk, walk, walk
This may sound simple, but the absolute best thing I do all of the time is incorporating walking outside into my daily routine. Right now, I walk every single morning with Rosy in the jogging stroller. Our stroll is anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.
Rosy loves it, and because it’s always been a part of her life (I had her out walking a week after she was born!) it’s as natural as breathing.
We also walk as a family every night! After supper, we get back out in our neighborhood and walk and talk for 20-30 minutes with Rosy and Max (our border collie). I LOVE walking as a family, and it has definitely been something instrumental in our marriage. Walking and talking is something we have always done, and I look forward to it daily.
Walking outside isn’t just good for my body either, it really is a spiritual experience as well. It’s a great time to think, pray, or listen to an audiobook and has helped me mentally and emotionally during pregnancy and post-partum as well.
2. Running
Both pregnancies, I have continued running 3-5 times a week. When I was pregnant the first time, I stopped at about 35 weeks and just kept to walking, and that’s what I hope to do again this time.
Right now, I run in the morning while Clay feeds Rosy and himself breakfast. Nothing crazy, just a couple of easy miles. It really helps me feel more energized through the day!
While I may not love running while I’m doing it every time, I always really enjoy having had run, and that is worth it to me!
3. YouTube Videos
Almost every day I will do a 10-20 minute workout video from YouTube. I’ve done this since college, and it’s such a normal part of my day I don’t even think about it anymore!
I don’t have a plan (although that would probably be helpful!), but I will just pick a random one daily. Almost always these involve dumbbells or kettlebells, but sometimes they are just bodyweight exercises. Super simple, but super easy to incorporate during Rosy’s nap time.
4. Stretching at night
I have just gotten back on the boat with this, and I’m SO THANKFUL that I have. It has made a huge impact on my sleeping since the normal pregnancy aches and pains have definitely started showing up in the middle of the night!
Every night, Clay and I do a 6 minute yoga stretching routine together (it’s a YouTube video!). It really helps to settle down my restless legs and is just good for me in general!
Basically, I just make it a point to stay active all of the time, but especially while I’m pregnant. I do always listen to my body, and I will definitely skip or stop a run or a workout if I think it isn’t a good idea.